Learn Spanish (Spain): Ayer no fui a clase; ¿quién cogió apuntes? - Yesterday I didn't go to class; who took notes?

Ayer no fui a clase; ¿quién cogió apuntes?

Yesterday I didn't go to class; who took notes?

Breakdown of Ayer no fui a clase; ¿quién cogió apuntes?

Questions & Answers about Ayer no fui a clase; ¿quién cogió apuntes?

Why is there no "la" before "clase"? Shouldn't it be "fui a la clase"?

Just like in English, Spanish often drops the article when talking about attending class in a general sense. You say fui a clase (I went to class) rather than fui a la clase (I went to the class), unless you are referring to a very specific, physical classroom.

Is "fui" the past tense of "ser" (to be) or "ir" (to go) here?

Here, fui is the preterite (simple past) of ir (to go), because it is followed by the destination a clase. The verbs ser and ir share the exact same forms in this past tense, so you always have to tell them apart by the context.

I've heard that the verb "coger" is a bad word. Is it safe to use here?

Yes, in Spain, coger is a perfectly normal, everyday verb meaning "to take", "to grab", or "to catch". However, in many parts of Latin America, it is highly offensive slang. Since you are learning the Spanish of Spain, coger apuntes is exactly what you should say.

Could I use the word "notas" instead of "apuntes" for taking notes?

Not in this context. In Spanish, apuntes specifically refers to notes taken in a class, meeting, or lecture. If you say notas, it usually refers to your school grades or short, written messages (like a sticky note). So, "to take class notes" is always tomar apuntes or coger apuntes.